PACC-10 money cut from city's 2005-2006 budget
By Matt Shaw
Published in News on June 9, 2005 1:49 PM
The Goldsboro City Council has cut all of PACC-10's funding from the city's 2005-06 budget, a $33,000 savings.
But that doesn't necessarily mean city residents will no longer be able to watch council meetings, Center Street Jams and other city programming on their TVs, as of July 1.
Parker Advertising, which owns PACC-10, and the city are continuing to negotiate the terms of a contract for next year, owner Bobby Parker said Wednesday. Parker sent the city his latest proposal Wednesday morning.
Should the City Council agree to a contract, it will then need to amend the budget to restore PACC-10's funding.
"I have wanted a contract that spells out exactly what they want and what is expected. ... but I have no idea if this is going to happen," Parker said.
During budget discussions last month, council members said they wanted more details on what PACC-10 would do for the city and removed its funding. They never returned to the issue before approving the budget Monday night.
This is the third consecutive year that funding for PACC-10 has been a point of contention.
The the city and the company have worked together for more than two decades. Since the early 1980s, city events have been televised on PACC-10 (Channel 10 on Time-Warner Cable).
The city has always paid Parker Advertising some amount for its services. For the past seven years, the annual payment has been about $33,000.
That money does not include the broadcasting of City Council meetings. Time-Warner's cable franchise agreement guarantees the city that air time, and it pays PACC-10 an undisclosed amount to show the meetings.
But the city has paid Parker to produce the meetings, which means using his camera equipment, manning it and feeding the live signal.
Should the city fail to reach a new agreement, it will need to either use its own employees or contractors for production.
Parker also has broadcast special events such as the Human Relations Prayer Breakfast, the Human Relations Banquet and the Martin Luther King breakfast, and has produced videos for city departments' use.
PACC-10 also has broadcast Center Street Jams, the annual Christmas parade, and the "Downtown Living" show, produced for the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation, although those programs have included commercials.
PACC-10 could do even more for the city, Parker said.
A few years ago, Wayne County commissioners had similar concerns about programming, and Parker worked with County Manager Lee Smith to expand programming. Since then, Smith has had a monthly show that spotlights different county departments. Parker also produces an annual "State of Wayne" video that is shown repeatedly on PACC-10.
"I'd like to offer the city the same level of service that the county receives," Parker said. "It's up to the City Council now."